Your support makes all the difference!

Ten-year-old Archie has had over 1600 injections. That is one every single day since he was five. This stressful, invasive medical regime has been critical in managing Archie’s kidney disease and keeping him well.

Mum Emma said “Seeing your child go through test after test, be prodded and poked and take medication they don’t like breaks your heart. We’ve watched Archie endure so much since he was a tiny baby."

Two years later, Archie’s baby brother, Sascha, was born. Every prenatal test came up perfect. But just five days after a traumatic birth, Sascha was also diagnosed with kidney disease.

“At least with Archie, we knew he was going to be unwell; we knew he'd be in NICU. They prepared us for the worst. With Sascha, I had a more traumatic birth, and the news hit me harder. The shock of thinking, we’re doing this all over again… was devastating.”

Children like Archie and Sascha face many ups and downs as they navigate a lifetime of challenges due to kidney disease.

Emma shared "Late last year, Archie was getting quite depressed. He is just a kid and no parent should have to hear that - it was heartbreaking. He told me he was struggling and felt like he was the only one.”

Thankfully mum Emma discovered the KidneyHealth4Youth Program, and they all attended a camp as part of the Es-Capers events. They met other families and Archie met other kids with kidney disease like him.

"It was so good to talk to others who have lived experience. It made such a big difference to our family and to Archie, he had so much fun and said he didn’t feel so alone anymore."

Your gifts help kidney kids and their family access vital support services to help manage the impact of kidney disease, connect with others, and achieve a better quality of life.